Basics of 5 Major World Religions and Humanism

Hinduism

- Founder

No single founder; evolved over thousands of years in India.

- Sacred Texts

Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata.

- Symbols

aum

- Sacred Spaces/Buildings

Temples (e.g., Brihadeeswarar Temple), the River Ganges (considered sacred and purifying).

- Festivals, Rituals, Events

Diwali (festival of lights), Holi (festival of colors), Puja (daily worship).

- Creation Myth

The cosmic egg (Hiranyagarbha) gave birth to the universe, and Vishnu churned the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to produce life and the nectar of immortality.

- Faith Communities

Hindus, with significant diversity in practices and beliefs.

Judaism

- Founder

Abraham, regarded as the patriarch.

- Sacred Texts

Torah, Talmud, Tanakh.

- Symbols

Star of David (✡), Menorah.

- Sacred Spaces/Buildings

Synagogues, the Western Wall in Jerusalem (remnant of the Second Temple, a place of pilgrimage and prayer).

- Festivals, Rituals, Events

Passover (Exodus from Egypt), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

- Creation Myth

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Light and darkness, sky, land, sea, vegetation, animals, and humans were created in sequence.

- Faith Communities

Jewish people, including groups such as Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative Jews.

Buddhism

- Founder

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), 5th-4th century BCE.

- Sacred Texts

Tripitaka (Pali Canon), Mahayana Sutras, Tibetan Book of the Dead.

- Symbols

Dharma Wheel (☸), Lotus Flower.

- Sacred Spaces/Buildings

Monasteries, stupas (e.g., Sanchi Stupa), Bodh Gaya (site of Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree).

- Festivals, Rituals, Events

Vesak (Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death), meditation retreats.

- Creation Myth

The universe is cyclical, with endless cycles of creation and destruction. There is no definitive beginning, reflecting impermanence and interdependence.

- Faith Communities

Buddhists, including Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna traditions.

Christianity

- Founder

Jesus Christ, 1st century CE.

- Sacred Texts

Bible (Old Testament and New Testament).

- Symbols

Cross, Ichthys (fish symbol).

- Sacred Spaces/Buildings

Churches, cathedrals, Jerusalem (Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection).

- Festivals, Rituals, Events

Christmas (birth of Jesus), Easter (resurrection of Jesus), Baptism.

- Creation Myth

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. He formed light, the sky, land, sea, vegetation, celestial bodies, animals, and finally humans in His image, giving them dominion over creation.

- Faith Communities

Christians, including Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox branches.

Islam

- Founder

Prophet Muhammad, 7th century CE.

- Sacred Texts

Qur'an, Hadith.

- Symbols

Crescent Moon and Star.

- Sacred Spaces/Buildings

Mosques, Mecca (Kaaba, the holiest site where Muslims perform Hajj), Medina (Prophet Muhammad's mosque and burial place).

- Festivals, Rituals, Events

Ramadan (month of fasting), Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha.

- Creation Myth

Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days. He formed humans from clay and breathed life into them, appointing them stewards of the earth.

- Faith Communities

Muslims, including Sunni and Shia branches.

Humanism

- Founder

No single founder; emerged as a philosophical movement in the Renaissance.

- Sacred Texts

None; relies on reason, ethics, and scientific inquiry.

- Symbols

Happy Human symbol.

- Sacred Spaces/Buildings

None specific; focus is on human connection and shared spaces.

- Festivals, Rituals, Events

Secular celebrations like International Humanist Day.

- Creation Myth

Emphasizes scientific explanations like the Big Bang and evolution.

- Faith Communities

Humanists, often organized into groups promoting secular ethics and human rights.